With the NBL tipping off on Friday 21st, we take a look at some of the players who have a lot to prove in the upcoming season.

The trio of Tonny Drileba, James Okello and Jimmy Enabu has the most prove ahead of the 2025 NBL season.

The three won multiple championships with City Oilers and now have a task to dethrone their former bosses.

In regards to skill, talent and abilities, they have done it all and having nothing to prove but the question is, can they take down the Oilers?

That is all they have to prove and for them and the Namuwongo Blazers, their only success will be delivering the championship, anything other than that is a burst.

Edgar Munaba moved from KIU Titans to the City Oilers, a team that he faced and lost to in the finals the past 2 seasons.

Edgar has a lot to prove in regards to winning a championship and being a leader at the Oilers franchise.

He made his debut for the Silverbacks in February 2024 and with the Afrobasket in sights, he has to work and prove himself.

Edgar will come in the season with the Afrobasket at the back of his mind and he will be coming out strong.

Joel Kayiira is another player who made his debut for the Silverbacks in 2024.

Ahead of the 2025 season, he will be the number one option at the center position for the UCU Canons and he has big shoes to fill.

At the back of his mind, he has the Afrobasket and making that squad could be very huge for him.

Mark Ngobi was among the top scorers in the FUBA Division One 2023 and 2024 seasons.

With his competitive nature and mindset, the NBL is another place in which he can make his mark.

The 2025 NBL season is a new challenge for him and in order for Sommet to succeed, he has to have perform at a high level.

Isabu Carlos is the only player that remained from the KIU Titans 2024 NBL squad.

He was a top player for the Makindye Shooters over 2 years ago and since his move to KIU Titans, he was barely involved on the floor.

This 2025 season, he comes in as one of the most experienced players in the KIU Titans squad and he will be leader of this charge.

Acinabai Takpiny Apugi was named the 2024 FUBA Division One and coming into the new NBL season, he will be looked at as the head of the Rezlife Saints.

Having been a top player, more so in the playoffs, he has pressure to try to meet similar standards but in a new league.

The success of Rezlife Saints will be correlating with his success on the floor.

Puati Ozias Kikomba was a force in the 2024 season but before the arrival of Christian Ndibu and Ruai Luak, his team had just 1 win in 11 games.

This season, he starts with his country-mates Christian Ndibu and Mpiya Juf, and undoubtedly, this is the best front court in the league.

Can he galvanize the troops and make them a competitive force?

He is going to be the leader of the Kampala Rockets and if they can achieve success, it will be mainly on the back of his efforts.

Chuol Nyuot had been with the Namuwongo Blazers for 9 years but he had never been the main guy during their time in the NBL.

For the 2025 season, he moved to Victoria University but he will be coming in as a replacement for Joseph Kumbai.

Kumbai was a powerhouse for the University side in the second round and the playoffs and his departure left a big role.

Chuol comes into the season with a task to prove himself as a top player and that he has the ability to lift Victoria University to become a competitive side.

Diopa Durocher left Livingstone for Namuwongo Blazers during the 2024 mid-season transfer window but he played just 6 games and had an average of 9.2 minutes.

His move did not yield much and he finds himself back to where his journey started.

Despite his setback last year, he has a chance to redeem himself.

He will be carrying his team in the 2025 season and his performance will directly impact his teams’ final standing on the log.

Peter Sifuma comes into the 2025 season at a new home, the JT Jaguars and he will be having similar ambitions that he did with the UCU Canons.

The Jaguars found a person that can score, defend and perform at a high level and they believe he can elevate them to a top 4 finish.

At the back of his mind, Sifuma knows that a lot of people believe in his abilities and they would want to see similar performances that he displayed while in the UCU Canons uniform.

Stanly Mugerwa

Stanly Mugerwa departed the KIU Titans for KCCA Panthers and just like Munaba and Kayiira, he has aspirations to be on the Silverbacks squad for the Afrobasket come August.

Mugerwa is known for his midrange but the Panthers will need him to go to the hole more and cause damage near the rim.

He has a lot to prove mostly to the National team coaches and his new bosses that he is a top player that can elevate the team.